UPDATE 10:45 p.m.
The Mason Fire is 100% contained and those living in Bisbee are back at 'READY' status.
Incident Commander Krista Simoneau of the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management said fire crews left Mason Hill shortly after sundown, but they plan to be back on the hill Wednesday morning to check for hot spots.
No buildings or people were harmed by the fire.
Though KGUN 9 spoke to many neighbors in Bisbee who were relatively unbothered by the nearby flames, that wasn't the case for everyone in the town.
Leah Berard moved to Bisbee from Minnesota last year.
“I’ve never seen this before, so for me this was a first time experience and I was a little nervous,” Berard said.
During the day, her neighborhood had been moved to 'SET' status on the county's 'Ready, Set, Go!' evacuation alert system, but Berard didn't have the alert system set up on her phone.
“I was trying to enjoy a coffee with a friend and catch up, but I kept turning my back and looking back up at the smoke," she said.
Berard's neighbor, Jim Jordan agreed.
"A lot of people were concerned," Jordan said. "In the way that we all know people who live up there."
Jordan left his home in the morning to go volunteer for non-profit Goar Park Lunches. While he was there, he got the alert. He says patrons kept asking if his home and dog were alright.
They both were.
"It's a local community," Jordan said. "Things are pretty small here. So, we all know each other, and we will all be concerned about each other."
Before it was contained, the Mason fire burned about nine acres of land according to Simoneau.
Berard said that this up close and personal experience hasn't scared her out of living in Southern Arizona.
“This is what happens in the high desert in drought,” she said.
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UPDATE 4:15 p.m.
One lane in each direction has reopened on Highway 80 from Naco Road to West Boulevard, according to Cochise County Sheriff's Office. One lane will remain closed for now to accommodate fire personnel.
The Mason fire was mapped at about 9 acres total, and is located on Mason Hill overlooking Bisbee. Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management says crews continue to work on the line around the fire.
Watch team coverage from KGUN 9's Eddie Celaya and KGUN 9's Cochise County reporter Alexis Ramanjulu who has reactions from neighbors:
UPDATE 2:56 p.m.:
The Cochise County Sheriff's Office has sent out an emergency alert, canceling the "SET" evacuation status and declaring the "wildfire event" over. Evacuation status has been reduced to 'READY'.
The City of Bisbee posted on its Facebook page that the Mason Fire has been contained, but mop-up continues. Crews will be on-site through the evening.
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ORIGINAL STORY:
The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management is battling the Mason Fire, which has burned about 3 acres. The fire is located roughly one mile south-southwest of Bisbee, burning north of Mason Hill and southwest of State Route 80.
Arizona Forestry says the fire remains within a bowl-shaped area around Mason Hill and is burning through grass and brush. Two hand crews from the department are working alongside Single Engine Air Tankers and a Large Air Tanker to contain the blaze.
Parts of Bisbee are under “SET” evacuation status, according to the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, the wildfire has closed Highway 80 Westbound near Naco Rd (milepost 341).
CCSO said as of Wednesday morning, Highway 80 is closed from West Boulevard, just east of the tunnel, to Naco Road. The sheriff's office says a detour is set up through Tombstone Canyon.
People in Old Bisbee between West Boulevard and Art Avenue are being asked to prepare for evacuation, CCSO says. County officials say the courthouse and county offices in Bisbee are closed for the rest of Wednesday.
KGUN 9 has a reporter headed to Bisbee and will provide updates throughout the day.
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